2008 BlueSky Tournament Match - 6

With just 3 more matches in the tournament, including this one, CSS team either has given up or have their tail straight up. It shows in the behavior and body language. For the last couple of matches the team has not been turning up in time. This match was the worst, at 12.30pm for a 1pm match there was none except me and Dinesh on the ground. At the time of the toss we had just 5 folks on the ground, ready to play and the rest were literally crawling in one by one. Natz had to do his usual, which was missing for a couple of weeks, for the team to get ready. The best (worst) was reserved for the last, Mr. Best-batsman-slash-has-ever-produced, was on the ground with no whites and shoes.

Anyways, this week Mr. Captain had no choices but to go himself for the toss. CSS lost the toss and was put to set a target for AGM limited.

Surprisingly when the team was ready to get on the field there was more than needed folks in the team. Bunch of new faces came to the ground, whoever called them should have informed them about being there on time as well.

Vishy started the bowling and had the first break through in the last ball of the first over. In the meanwhile Mr. Captain spotted "Man of the final" on the ground and negotiated with the umpires and brought him on the playing eleven. This made one of the debutant to go back into the dug out.

"Saroja" Balaji was given the new ball, dont remember when I saw him bowl last. It took a few deliveries for him to get the ball bounce before the batsman. Managed to bowl 3 overs for 16 runs. Was replaced by "Panther", started his over giving away a boundary. Then was as-he-would-like-to-call his usual self. Picked up 4 wickets. Completed with a figures of 14/4 in 5 overs. Impressive.

In the meanwhile on the other end, the "Man of the Final" was his fiery best. Literally unplayable and pretty much ran through the AGM batting line. He finished with an amazing spell of 4 overs with 3/14.

Vishy completed his 5 overs with 16/1. Natz rolled his arm for one ball and took the last wicket.

The highlight on the innings was CSS fielding, there were about 6 direct hits and 1 by "Mr. Best-batsman-slash-has-ever-produced" getting a wicket.

AGM was bundled for 71 in 16 overs.

Vishy and Natz opened the batting for CSS. Vishy started the innings with a good square-cut for 4 on the first ball. Runs kept flowing pretty easily and the score was 40 in sixth over, Vishy did a mishit back to the bowler. Guess this disturbed Natz who followed suit immediately. Vicky went in and came back with a first ball bowled. Suddenly from 40 for no loss, the score was 40 for 3 in 7 overs. The team back in the dugout did not anticipate this as none was padded up, Kiran had to rush in with his pants just above his knees. Could have been 40/4 with Arvind scooping one with this "Angry Beast" and AGM folks couldnt hold on to it, at covers. This made Arvind realise and started playing with his head low. Anyways, with just 30 more runs to score for a victory Arvind and Kiran brought the score close to the target. Kiran was in some hurry and got stumped with 5 runs to score for a win. "Man of the final" got his chance to bat as well, which was not expected, completed the formalities with a hit to the fence.

Batting card - Vishy - 21, Natz - 17, Arvind - 11 (NO), Vicky - 0, Kiran - 10, Prachu - 4 (NO)

CSS just took 10.3 overs to complete the match in less than 2 hrs.

BlueSky Stats

Match 1 against Applied Materials
Result:Win by 48 runs
Venue:AM Jain

Match 2 against Sri Krishna Sweets
Result:Win by 102 runs
Venue:CLRI

Match 3 against Cambridge Solutions
Result:Win by 9 wickets
Venue:CLRI

Match 4 against Bailey Technologies
Result:Lost by 7 Runs
Venue:St. Bedes

Match 5 against Singam Puli 11
Result:Win by 160 Runs
Venue: Don Bosco, Perambur

Match 6 against AGM Limited
Result:Win by 6 Wickets
Venue: CLRI

2008 BlueSky Tournament Match - 5

CSS team is still on the high, the 6 run defeat the previous week did not bother them much. Guess it went a little overboard as there was very little co-ordination/communication with the team members on the plan to get to the ground. Incidentally there was a plan (apparently) to meet at Pink house and go together, eventually everyone drove pretty much in their own vehicle. Its not just this, some were woken up only past 7 for a 8 o clock match. Watch out folks !!! With the amount of hype on this team we need to be ........

Anyways, everyone reached a little past 8, at Don Bosco - Perambur. It was nice to be on the ground after a couple of weeks.

Mr. Captain decided to go himself for the toss and not send any of his lucky charms, guess the decision was impromptu post the telecon the luckies had with him during the journey to the ground. CSS lost the toss and "Singam Puli 11" (yes you read it correct) decided to bowl. There was a cheeky smile on Mr. Captain and came back only to get padded up along with Kiran. "Mr. Best-ever-Batsman-Slash-has-ever-produced" padded up for No. 3.

CSS being high, didnt have the usual meeting nor did everyone bother to sit together like usual. While there were lot of chatting and mocking going on at the dug out, Nats and Kiran started their task of making decent target. Nats did another Sehwag, quick 21 and scooped one got caught. That was probably the only ball the "Singams and Pulies" could hold on, till then. Bad luck Nats.

Kiran was joined by "Mr. Best-ever-Batsman-Slash-has-ever-produced". Kiran had made up his mind not to do anything flashy. He played one of the best knocks I have seen, extremely copy book style shots. "Mr. Best-ever-Batsman-Slash-has-ever-produced" couldn't do much in the middle, got out in very similar to Nats for 18. Vishy walked in and did not trouble the scorers. He was padded up longer than he was in the middle.

Vishnu, coming back to the team after a long time, joined kiran and played some good shots and made a decent 46.

"Singam Puli 11" were certainly not what they claim on the ground but was smart to make a proposal/decision with the umpires and Nats at the toss to have a 2 hr time instead of 30 overs.

They could bowl only 27 overs in 2hrs and CSS completed their innings with the scores at 231/7.

Now we got back to some stuff we usually do, team meeting. This time it was simple and "clean" .... "No complacency folks, lets get it done".

Vishy started the bowling attack. With a decent score, and a new ball with good seam decided to attack, 3 slips and a gully. This provoked the openers and they slogged a couple of hits to the fence.

Then came the "Panther". Same attacking field. This is the details of the first over from Panther.
". W W wd W . . " well.. none could believe their eyes. "Panther" was literally hunting the "Singam Puli 11" sounds weird right? but there were a few who were witnessing this. Anyways, between Vishy and Vicky "the Panther" they ran through and finished the match in 14 overs. Vishnu and Veera rolled their arms as well. Vicky finished with the figures of 6/29 in 5.3 overs. Vishy - 3/17 in 6 overs. Well it took a score of matches to get this dream match, it eventually did.

Look at the picture and you can see the relief/excitement/"Job done"/"I am a bowler too"/"Panther holding his dream ball" all these in one.

For the records, while the team members post the match were involved in a discussion on tournaments to enroll to play better cricket, Mr Panther succeeded an argument with the umpires and got the ball that he bowled with ... ... well ... as they say ... result is what it counts .. and especially in cricket the score books will read Vicky 6/29... his career best figures. Congratulations Vicky!!

Anyways .. it was a victory for CSS and thats what counts.... and the standings in the tournament.....

BlueSky Stats

Match 1 against Applied Materials
Result:Win by 48 runs
Venue:AM Jain

Match 2 against Sri Krishna Sweets
Result:Win by 102 runs
Venue:CLRI

Match 3 against Cambridge Solutions
Result:Win by 9 wickets
Venue:CLRI

Match 4 against Bailey Technologies
Result:Lost by 7 Runs
Venue:St. Bedes

Match 5 against Singam Puli 11
Result:Win by 160 Runs
Venue: Don Bosco, Perambur


Till we meet next time.

2008 BlueSky Tournament - Match 4

Well... catches win matches they say. What would happen for a team with a bunch of butter fingers? So the team which dropped a few (7/8 catches) obviously lost, though the batters seem to have managed to get the difference to the minimal. CSS lost the match by 7 runs.

The action this week shifted to St Bedes, CSS vs Bailey Technologies.

The day started with lucky charm being late to the ground Vicky (second in line as lucky charm usually when CSS bats) gets to go for the toss.

CSS won the toss and Nats decided to bowl first, no-brainer with pretty much everyone in the team who can hold bat being in form. The routine Team Huddle happened without two of the regulars Prasanna and Me (was traveling).

The new ball was shared by Nats and Satish. With two of its regular bowlers not available for the game, it was left to Arvind bowl more than 6 ball per match. Visibly it was not CSS's day on the field as there about 7/8 regulation catches dropped. CSS Managed to complete their quota of 30 overs and was set a target of 228 to chase.

Dug out was fairly relaxed having chased in excess of two hundred successfully a couple of times in the recent past.

It was Kicha and Nats opening the innings this time,Six...Six...Dot..Four ..Four ..Out was the sequence of scoring in the first over with Nats did the sehwag. Karthik continued his form, for a change in a different ground other than his home. It was a delight to the fifty odd spectators to watch him play shots all around the ground..Then was the collapse and CSS lost the match by 7 runs. Another last over thriller with this time CSS losing the match.

Lesson learnt :
1- Lucky charms need to be on time :)
2- VVNA strategy should extend .... ? :)

Breif scores

Bailey:227/8 in 30 overs (Nats 2/31)

CSS :221/10 in 29.4 overs (Nats-20, Kicha-37, Karthick-77,Veera-19,VIcky 19)

Supported by : Shiva, Sanjiva, Sridhar & Yuvaraj who witnessed the whole match.

I am positive Shiva Sanjiva & Sridhar would have been itching to pad up and score a few. Shiva for sure!! :)

Thanks Vicky for the write up. Obviously I did some editing :)


BlueSky Stats

Match 1 against Applied Materials
Result:Win by 48 runs
Venue:AM Jain

Match 2 against Sri Krishna Sweets
Result:Win by 102 runs
Venue:CLRI

Match 3 against Cambridge Solutions
Result:Win by 9 wickets
Venue:CLRI

Match 4 against Bailey Technologies
Result:Lost by 7 Runs
Venue:St. Bedes